If one of your new year’s resolutions for 2023 was to live more sustainably then you’ve come to the right place. With resolutions still fresh in our minds, we decided to put together some small and simple steps we can all take to reduce waste and lessen our environmental impact over the next 12 months (and beyond!).
In the kitchen…
The food we eat—and the food we don’t—is a big part of our environmental footprint. Many day-to-day staples are shipped hundreds or thousands of miles, and require a lot of energy and resources to be produced. That’s why we’re starting our list in the kitchen, with steps to help reduce the impact of what we eat…
A 2021 UN report found that, on average, each person wastes 74 kg of food per year. We can all help to reduce how much food we waste at home, from only buying what we need, storing food properly, measuring portions sizes (especially foods like pasta and rice) and learning how to make best use of the food we have in the fridge or cupboard.
Eating seasonally is a great way to reduce the impact of the food we eat. Shopping locally at your farmer’s market or farm shop is a great way to start: they’ll stock seasonal produce, grown locally, so you know the food on your table will be fresh, in season, and won’t have travelled halfway around the world to get there!
A diet rich in plants is another lifestyle choice that’s kinder to the planet. Adding more plants into your diet and cutting down on meat and dairy can help cut the environmental impact of what you eat. But if that seems a little daunting, then there’s an easier place to begin…
Meat-free Monday is a great initiative and the perfect way to start if you’re curious about reducing your meat consumption to help the planet. Their website is full of resources and recipes to encourage people to switch to one plant-based meal a week.
In everyday life…
Outside of the kitchen there are plenty of other simple steps that can drastically reduce waste, whether it’s around the home or out and about…
Whether you opt to eat-in rather than take-away, bring your own reusables, or shop at your local refill store, there are so many ways we can reduce the amount of single use products in our lives. Making these a part of your daily routine is a huge way to cut down on unnecessary waste.
There could be plenty of life left in items that are destined for the bin. Learning basic clothing repairs can save you money and save clothes from landfill, while swapping items among friends and family or donating goods to charity shops can help them to find a happy new home.
A little bit of research can uncover sustainable alternatives for everyday essentials around the home. Whether it’s switching to greener cleaning supplies or making the swap from clay cat litter to Natusan, these swaps mean you can cut down on waste and reduce your environmental impact with very little effort.
Take the time to ensure you’re really recycling correctly. Your local authority will have specific guidelines, and you can find more tips here. From saving up those plastic bags that need to be returned for recycling in store, to rinsing and separating things correctly, there are plenty of details that affect how (and if) items can be recycled.
Travel makes up 27% of the UK’s emissions, according to figures from the Wildlife Trusts. Choosing to leave the car at home for short journeys is just one way to live more sustainably. Whether you walk, bike, or opt for public transport, all are kinder to the planet and will still get you from A to B.
And some slightly bigger steps…
These sustainable steps aren’t quite so simple, but if you’ve got the time or the space, then we think they’re well worth a try—and with so many great resources and tutorials out there to help you on your sustainable journey, you’ll never be lacking inspiration.
We’ve already talked about reducing food waste, and composting is an effective and planet-friendly way to deal with whatever food waste you can’t avoid. If you have the space for it, The Soil Association has some great advice on making your own compost.
Whether you have a garden, a balcony or a window box, you can use that space to help wildlife. From planting native wildflowers to encouraging hedgehogs, birds, and bees, the WWF provides 5 tips for making your garden a wildlife haven, and the RSPB has a free guide to welcome wildlife to your garden.
10/01/2023 by NatuTeam